Fancy a dip?

Wild Swimming Code

(reviewed and updated Feb & April 2025, reviewed Jan 2026)

River swimming can be very enjoyable but there are some dangers you should be aware of

Campsite essentials:

• • (Update April 2025) There are NO LIFEGUARDS at Barefoot Campsites : Children and adults enter the water entirely at their own risk.
  • (Update April 2025) We strongly recommend that parents bring suitable buoyancy aids/life jackets for their children and any non-swimming adults in their party.
  • DO NOT SWIM in the weir pool – it’s far too dangerous and you could get trapped underwater.
  • DO NOT SWIM near the entrances to the lock. It’s very difficult for boats to see your head in the water, plus they will be concentrating on navigating their boats in and out of the lock.
  • In the campervan field, swim only upstream of the swimming steps and canoe launch area (ie away from the lock). On no account swim towards either the lock, or the steps on the lock layby, which are for the use of boaters.
  • Keep clear of the canoe launch area when canoes etc are coming in and out of the water. They have priority use of this area.
  • In the log pod field, enter the water in the corner closest to the showers and rope swing and do not swim towards the lock.
  • Keep a safe distance away from other river users, in particular larger, motorised vessels. This is especially important near the campsite as they will be concentrating on entering or leaving the lock.
  • Never jump into water you have not thoroughly checked for depth and obstructions – debris can float down the river, unseen, below the surface of the water.
  • Many of our rivers, including the Thames, are now contaminated with sewage. Sewage is not released every day, and much less frequently over the summer months.  You can monitor sewage discharge via the Sewage Map. Zoom in on Oxford, find Farmoor Reservoir to the west. Follow the river south until you see Northmoor and Appleton, west and east of the river.  Barefoot is on the river, on a line between the two. Click on the or image on the map to check when the station was last pumping. You need to look at the pumping stations upstream of the campsite, ie to the south and west of the campsite – Witney, Aston, Faringdon, Fairford etc.  In the summer months they often don’t pump for weeks.

 

Other recommendations when swimming:

• • Keep cuts and wounds covered with waterproof plasters.
  • Don’t drink river water.
  • Avoid contact with blue–green algae or getting tangled in the reeds at the side of the river.
  • Never swim alone and keep a constant watch on weak swimmers.
  • Always make sure you know how you will get out before you get in.
  • Don’t get too cold – warm up with exercise and warm clothes before and after a swim.
  • Wear footwear if you can.
  • If you’e going to swim any distance you might want to consider wearing a brightly coloured swimming hat or using a fluorescent tow float to make yourself more visible to boats.
  • Before you visit, we recommend you read the safety recommendations for river swimming found on the Wild Swimming Website.